Should you visit Fiordland National Park or Tauranga?
Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Fiordland National Park and Tauranga can help you decide which place is right for you.
Fiordland National Park
One of UNESCO's World Heritage Sites, Fiordland National Park is New Zealand's largest park, as well as one of the largest in the world. Although it may be the largest, it is the least explored park in the country. The park takes up the southwest region of the south island. The Department of Conservation manages the park (like all of the other parks in the country) and they try to keep development minimal in efforts to protect the environment and manage human activity. When visiting the park, prepare for rain as the park as over 200 days of rain per year.
Tauranga
Tauranga is a city on the North Island of New Zealand. It is situated on the western side of the Bay of Plenty, which is on the east coast of the island. Its population of 130,000 makes it the fifth largest city in the country. Tauranga is a Maori word translated roughly to 'a sheltered anchorage'. This makes sense as the town is located near a very large harbor and protected by Matakana Island. Mount Maunganui is at the headland of the town and regarded as a suburb of Tauranga. The beach at Mt Maunganui is a surfing hot spot. The climate is mostly warm and dry because of the town's sheltered position.
Which city is cheaper, Tauranga or Fiordland National Park?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Fiordland National Park is $94, while the average daily cost in Tauranga is $101. These costs include accommodation (assuming double occupancy, so the traveler is sharing the room), food, transportation, and entertainment. While every person is different, these costs are an average of past travelers in each city. Below is a breakdown of travel costs for Fiordland National Park and Tauranga in more detail.
Accommodation
Double occupancy rooms typically run around $94 in Fiordland National Park For nicer amenities and a premiere location, you can expect to pay a bit more.
If you're traveling alone, you may be able to find a budget hotel or hostel for around $73. But for two people in a standard two-person hotel room in Tauranga the cost is $146 on average.
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Accommodation
Hotel or hostel for one person
Fiordland National Park $47
Tauranga $73
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Accommodation
Typical double-occupancy room
Fiordland National Park
$94
Tauranga
$146
Food
The average traveler spends about $22 per day in Fiordland National Park for food, but obviously this is dependent on the type of restaurant and the amount of food ordered. To save money you can grab a lighter lunch or dinner, or you can try fast food or street food.
The average traveler spends about $21 per day in Tauranga for food, but obviously this is dependent on the type of restaurant and the amount of food ordered. To save money you can grab a lighter lunch or dinner, or you can try fast food or street food.
Local Transportation
To get around in Fiordland National Park, the average visitor spends $41 per day, per person. This includes the costs of taxi rides and private drivers as well as public transportation, which tends to be much more affordable.
While taxis and private drivers typically cost much more than public transportation, people usually spend around $6.62 per day to get around in Tauranga.
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Local Transportation
Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
Fiordland National Park $41
Tauranga $6.62
Entertainment
In Fiordland National Park, the costs for things to do, activities, admission tickets, and other sightseeing expenses are on average $19 per person, per day.
Activities, things to do, and other forms of entertainment usually cost around $10 per person, per day in Tauranga. This cost includes the price of admission tickets to attractions and museums as well as daily tours.
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Entertainment
Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
Fiordland National Park $19
Tauranga $10
Tours and Activities in Fiordland National Park
For Fiordland National Park, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
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Milford Sound Nature Cruise:
$50
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Milford Sound Nature Cruise on Premium Glass-Roof Catamaran:
$57
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From Te Anau: 1-Day Milford Sound Coach & Cruise:
$93
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Milford Sound Coach, Cruise, and Walk from Te Anau:
$100
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Cruise & Kayak Milford Sound:
$143
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Milford Sound Flight and Cruise:
$287
Tours and Activities in Tauranga
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Tauranga are as follows:
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3hr Tauranga Sun-downer History Tour COMPLIMENTARY Wine or Beer:
$43
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4hr Shore Excursion - History and Tasting Tour FREE Kiwifruit Ice Cream:
$61
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6hr Hobbiton Movie Set Tour:
$133
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Best of Rotorua Tour:
$118
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Craft Beer Tour from Tauranga:
$122
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Deluxe small group Cruise Day Tour, Rotorua, Tauranga & Mt Maunganui highlights:
$83
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Evening Glow Worm Kayak Tour in Tauranga:
$100
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Exclusive Rotorua Cultural and Geothermal Experience from Tauranga:
$729
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From Half Day Swimming with Dolphins Tour:
$108
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Geo Thermal Rotorua Tours:
$128
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Half-Day Tauranga Guided Tour by Minivan with port Pickup:
$104
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Harley Tour of the Mount 20mins:
$30
Alcohol
Typically, people visiting Fiordland National Park spend on average $7.88 on alcoholic beverages per person, per day.
The average person spends about $10 on alcoholic beverages in Tauranga per day. The more you spend on alcohol, the more fun you might be having despite your higher budget.
When comparing the travel costs between Fiordland National Park and Tauranga, we can see that Tauranga is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in Pacific, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.
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